At the turn of the 20th Century there was a large-scale scientific study that focused on the benefits to growing children of adding fluoride to drinking water. As anticipated, the study showed that approximately one in three children involved in the study had a non-ossifying fibroma (a kind of tumor) in their bones. To avoid submitting more children to the harmful radiation of x-rays, no additional studies have been done, but bone tumor specialists estimate that perhaps up to a third of children and teens under the age of 20 have a Non-Ossifying Fibroma (NOF) or fibrous cortical defect.
Because most people associate tumors with cancer, this information may sound frightening. And while it should be taken seriously when a child shows symptoms of a bone tumor or cyst, parents need to understand that NOFs—and the vast majority of other types of bone tumors and cysts—are benign (non-cancerous). These tumors don’t become cancerous and they don’t spread. In fact, very few children who have an NOF or other type of growth somewhere in their bones will ever show any symptoms. Bone tumors and cysts are often discovered by chance when a patient requires X-rays for another reason, such as a sports injury. Common sites for bone tumors and cysts in children are the knees, shoulders, pelvis, arms, and legs. In most cases, no treatment is necessary because the tumor typically goes away on its own when a child is fully grown. Kids have an incredible capacity to heal, since their bones have the unique ability to regenerate and return to normal.
With this knowledge, you should not panic over a suspected bone tumor in your child. Sometimes, though, a growth does cause pain or other problems that need to be corrected by surgery or another means, so it’s important to look for warning signs to know when your child should be checked by a physician.
The procedure to remove a growth is typically an outpatient surgery. Usually, your child will be able to go home the same day as the surgery and will be back to full activity in a few short weeks or less. Once treated, most benign bone tumors do not re-grow or show up in other places in the body. On rare occasions, some tumors recur or persist despite treatment and may require multiple operations, but it helps to remember that benign NOFs don’t spread.
A diagnosis of cancer is extremely rare. Bone cancers account for less than one percent of all cancers. And while Primary Children’s Hospital treats thousands of patients with bone tumors, we diagnose and treat only 10 to 20 new cases of bone cancer each year—that’s just 10 to 20 children in the entire intermountain area.
Even when bone cancer is diagnosed, we’re here to help you through it. Primary Children’s is one of the top hospitals in the country in both orthopedics and cancer care. US News & World Report ranks Primary Children’s 12th in Orthopedics and 19th in Cancer Care, so we’re well-equipped to treat patients with a bone cancer diagnosis.
To treat bone cancer, Primary Children has a nationally recognized, highly specialized team consisting of sarcoma surgeons, pediatric oncologists, and radiation specialists, when necessary, along with a full support staff of physician assistants and nurses. Together with the patient and parents, we develop a treatment plan that, depending on the location and type of sarcoma, may include surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation treatments.
Primary Children’s also has two internationally recognized researchers conducting research on children’s bone problems—and specifically focused on Ewing Sarcoma. This means that Primary Children’s can provide your child with the most up-to-date and advanced care available. As a national leader in pediatric orthopedics and cancer care, we specialize in innovative, family-centered care that supports you at every step on your child’s journey to health.
Primary Children’s was recently ranked by the U.S. News and World Report as one of the best children’s hospitals in eight different areas including Orthopedics. For more information, 
Play Ground | Primary Children's Hospital Blog 